Opus
Thirty-eight: October 4, 2000
Cover-ups and Olympic Truth: Phoney Covers on Comics and the Australian
Games Another
High-water Marc: Naked Brain on Sunny Fundays Website

Opus
Thirty-nine: October 18, 2000
Adult Comics: A Review of the Crankshaft Reprint about Alzheimers Not Quite
Legendary Steranko: A Marvel Reprint of His First Issues of Nick
Fury Applause
and Pitfalls: Robinsonia, No Pasaran

Opus
Forty: November 2, 2000
On the Shelf: Reviews of Reprints of Rose Is Rose, Rose In Loving
Color, Speed Bump, The Neighborhood, Ziggy, Heart of the City Batman/Lobo:
The Latest from the Bizarre Biz

Opus
Forty-six: January 31, 2001
Irks and Crotchets: Bettie Page Air Fresheners and Other Outrages Back in
the Saddle: Stan Lynde’s Reprint Book of Grass Roots Editoonery:
Review of Graphic Opinions

Opus
Fifty-three:March 14, 2001 Before
We Forget: Beetle Bailey’s 50th and Mort Walker’s
AutobiographyOpus
Fifty-four: March 28, 2001
Mad
Distress: William Gaines’ Venerable Lampoon Magazine Starts
Taking Advertising with What Disastrous Results?Opus
Fifty-five: March 28, 2001
Breathed
Speaks: Excerpts from An Interview with the Notable Comic Strip
Recluse in Early 2001Opus
Fifty-six: April 11, 2001 Reviewed are the Spirit Millennium Edition
from DC, 10th Muse, Harvey Pekar’s return in
American Splendor’s 25th Anniversary, Image Two-in-One
(a 24-hour comic by Larsen and Eliopoulos), Image’s Double
Image No. 2, Kurt Busiek’s Superstar, Allison Dare:
Little Miss Adventure, Green Arrow No. 2, and Citymouth
from England’s stellar Hunt Emerson.Opus
57: April 25, 2001
Current titles on the stands reviewed are Tellos, Heavy Metal
with another appearance by Serpieri’s Druuna, the Dodsons’
Harley Quinn No. 7, Alan Moore’s Tom Strong, the latest
issue of Desperate Times, Eduardo Risso’s work in 100
Bullets and Weird Western Tales, and a new reprint volume from
Andrews McMeel of Darby Conley’s Get Fuzzy comic strip.Opus
58: April 25, 2001
This year’s Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning goes
to Ann Telnaes, only the second woman to win in this category,
and a novel with a Superman aura.Opus
59: (May 9, 2001)
Discusssions of some recent graphic novels—Dixie Road,
Raptors II, and Gipsy as well as Rick Geary’s delicious
latest (all from NBM) and a new collection of Alex Toth art,
not to mention an obit on Big Daddy RothOpus
60: May 23, 2001
Reviews of comics on the stands at this date include premiere
issues of Bazooka Jules, Codename Knockout, Desperadoes,
and Randy O’Donnell as well as Kane, Private
Beach, Tom Strong, and Joe Sacco’s reportorial cartooning
for Time.Opus
61: May 29, 2001
Jack Davis, EC’s legend and a world-class caricaturist
and cover artist, won the NCS Reuben as "cartoonist of the year’
for the year 2000; all other winners of Reuben "division" awards
are also listed.Opus 62:
June 6, 2001
Editorial cartoonist Steve Kelley
is fired at the San Diego Union-Tribune and other news
from hither and yon.Opus 63:
June 6, 2001
Remembering Hank Ketcham, who died
June 1.Opus
64: A New Outrage from a Familiar Source & Some Quick Reviews
(June 20, 2001)
Reviewed are 2024,Ted Rall’s latest work, and some newsstand
comics (Daredevil Yellow, Savage Dragon No. 85, Herobear and
the Kid, Scary Godmother, 10th Muse, and the "first" issue of
Codename Knockout) as well as notes on the latest development
in the Steve Kelley firing and the Happy Harv’s last word
on whether he (or Douglas Sirk) is alive or fictional.Opus
65: The Ladies on the Cover and a Dose of News and Reviews (July
4, 2001)
A book about Robert McGinnis paperback book covers, a
footnote the Steve Kelley firing, a visit to a clutch of old
time New Yorker cartoonists, and reviews of a few comic books.Opus 66:
Another Con Job and News and Reviews (August 1, 2001)
A glimpse of what went on at the San Diego ComiCon, some book
reviews and news, rapid rabbit reviews of a few new comics (Stan
Lee’s Just Imagine, Codename Knockout again, and Robert
Gregory’s newest Bitchy Bitch and the new Elektra), and
trolling for comics in mainstream mags.Opus
67: A Few Curves and None Too Soon (August 15, 200l)
Cover girls with comics connections—Julie Strain and Stacy
E. Walker—and reviews of a spate of space adventuress
material from the extra-talented off-shore Alfonzo Azpiri (who
knows how to draw a pretty sexy girl).Opus
68: Good Ol’ Mary, News & Notes, and Pithy Pronouncements
(August 29, 2001)
The Real Truth about Apple Mary and Mary Worth (and the syndicate’s
recent snafu), news about the International Museum of Cartoon
Art closing its doors in Boca Raton and Erik Larsen revealing
the Savage Dragon’s origins in February, and reviews of
Stan Lee’s Wonder Woman, Gleason’s Daredevil, Dick
Tracy’s Sam Catchem, Vandala II, Dollz, Dexter’s
Lab, Samurai Jack, Angel and the Ape, Hunter, Prime8, and Oni’s
Color Special 2001.Opus 69:
Ol’ Hatchet-jaw Hits 70 (September 12)
Dick Tracy reaches his 70th but his anniversary is celebrated
in Jim Scancarelli’s Gasoline Alley.Opus
70: Muse, Reviews, and News (September 26)
The question of laughter in cartoons in the wake of the 9eleven
atrocity is examined and then come reviews of The Good Girl
Art of Bob Lubbers, John Buscema Sketchbook, Jake Cole and Plastic
Man and news about the forthcoming Will Eisner book,
The Name of the Game, a new collection of Peanuts strips
and art, Spy vs. Spy, and the latest skirmish in the
Peanut Butter Battle over Percy Crosby’s famed Skippy.Opus 71:
Laughter and a Festival of Cartoonery (October 10)
After a brief notice that we’re laughing again in the
wake of the September 11th atrocity, we sample the festivities
at the 7th triennial Festival of Cartoon Art at Ohio State University.Opus
72: Reviews and the Simpsons and the Right to Know (October
24)
Reviews of Savage Dragon, Harley & Ivy: Love on the Lam,
Codename: Knockout, Astra, Battle Pope, Usagi Yojimbo, Hammer
of the Gods, Stan Lee’s Superman, Vamperotica,
Harvey Kurtzman’s The Grasshopper and the Ant,
and the latest strip reprints for Baby Blues, Zits, Baldo,
Grand Avenue, Lola, Dilbert, For Better or For Worse, Mutts
(Sundays). We also ridicule scholarly attention to the
Simpsons, and ask what became of our "right to know"?Opus
73: A Ramble through the New Yorker’s Cartoon Issue, Two
New Books, and Some Tantalizing Pretty Girl Art (November 7)
Reviews of The New Yorker’s annual cartoon issue,
Chip Kidd’s Peanuts: The Art of Charles M. Schulz,
Great Comic Cats (reprised), Danger Girl Sketchbook,
Draw No. 1, Sketch No. 4, and the first issue of Bloodstone
or Tombstone or Bloodraider or what-have-you.Opus
74: Back to Print (November 21)
Notes on the Harry Potter movie and recent events on newspaper
comics pages, plus reviews of Heavy Metal’s Attila
and Women of Manara, Garth Ennis’ oafish Rifle
Brigade, and Ron Goulart’s superior up-dated history
of comics.Opus 75:
E&P Awards and Other Fresh News plus Reviews (December 5)
Lynn Johnston and Clay Bennett are picked as "cartoonists of
the year" (strip and editorial), plus reviews of various comic
books.Opus
76: NBM's Quarter Century (December 21)
NBM's 25 years in the business--with reviews of line and some
of its current graphic novels and other titles.


Two new books of the great Al Hirschfeld's work, Hirschfeld's
New York and Hollywood: The Film Art of Hirschfeld,
are reviewed, as are several comic books: Catwoman 2, TV
Western, Some Trouble of a Serrious [sic] Nature, Shades of
Blue, Justice League Adventures 1, DC's reprint of Jack
Kirby's Green Arrow stories, Jack Kirby Collector 9, Tom
Strong 15, Stan Lee imagining the JLA anew, Groo: Death
and Taxes, Batman: The 10-cent Adventure, Eightball 22 (in
color!).


How Zippy survived an attempt on his San Francisco life
plus reviews of Will Eisner's The Name of the Game, Steve
Gerber's new Howard the Duck, and other works by Stan
Sakai, C. Scott Morse, Terry Moore, Greg Rucka, Eric Coile,
and Devon Massey, who doubles his fun.


A long-eared look at Little Annie Fanny: Volume II,
1970-1988 from Dark Horse, Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth
from DC, a few odds & addenda of news, and a parting reminder
of what the Olympics are all about.


Ted Rall attracts online fire from Alan
Keyes, who is then admonished by the Association of American
Editorial Cartoonists, after which Rall outrages NY firefighters,
and then, in appearing on MSNBC to defend himself, betrays editorial
cartooning, saying "It's just a cartoon."


Ted Rall strikes back, Oliphant
and the Church, Modesty Blaise movie, religion in the comics,
the demise of Comic Relief, R. Crumb in the world of
"fine" art, recipients of this year's Sparky Awards, and reviews
of The Sword of Zorro from AC, Stan Lee and John Byrne
on Robin, and Bluntman and Chronic.


Clay Bennett wins the Pulitzer,
nominees for the NCS Reuben, Oliphant and the power of pictures,
Tom Toles replaces Herblock at the Washington Post, Top
Shelf rescued by comics fans, some other online comics columns,
Brooke McEldowney's 9 Chickweed Lane (a masterpiece that
you can now sample in a new Andrews McMeel book), the latest
Dilbert book, and--as a Special Bonus--the entire, UNADULTERATED
(which is to say "fully adulterated"?) "Catching Up with Craig
Yoe" article that I produced, at great pains, for CBG but which,
due to their rigid rules about length, they shredded to a mere
shadow of its magnificent self when publishing it.


The
Spider-Man movie and how it relates to comic books, plus
news about nudity, the Simpsons almost sued, museums of cartooning
arts, and reviews of DC's replica edition of Sugar and Spike,
the inaugural issue of Bastard Samurai,Powers No.
19, and Howard the Duck No. 4.


Corrections
to Opus 89's report on the Reubens, David Broder's attack on
the Spider-Man movie, memorial statues abound,
and reviewsof Outlaw Nation, The Big Hoax, Oddballz,
and the current issue of Hogan's Alley.


Plus greed
at the Cartoon Bank on the anniversary of 9/11, and reviews
of The Pro, Decoy: Storm of the Century, Big Daddy Danger, Gotham
Girls and the Wertham snare, Live Nude Girls No. 2, Selina's
Big Score and DC's Shazam Annual No.1. And some Bushwah.


Reviews
of freshly minted Number Ones: Dungeon, Paradigm, 21 Down, Crime
Comics, Spider-Man and the Black Cat, and the first issue of
Liberty Meadows from Frank Cho's new
publisher, Image; plus, a review of The Life and Times of the
Shmoo.


Celebrating
the 60th anniversary of Pogo's birth with a smattering of misbegotten
history and a review of a freshly minted Pogo video, plus some
Bushwah on the Sopranos and reviews of comic strip reprint albums
from Andrews McMeel.


Reviews
of 21 Down 2, The Goon 1, Black Widow 3, Ballad of Utopia 1-3,
Hawkman 7, and some Own Fitzgerald and Jim Mahfood, Gonick's
latest History of the Universe, the most recent Rose Is Rose
reprint and other new tomes from Andrews McMeel.


Rabbit
Reflections the Gay Caballero, news and my view about the copyright
decision from the Supremes, another installment in the Schulz-Walker
Museum case, Dale Messick, what funnybooks the Happy Harv is
reading and enjoying these days, a footnote on the Columbia
disaster


Winners
of the annual honors at the National Cartoonists Society plus
reviews of Andrews McMeel reprint tomes (Pooch Cafe, Zits and
Get Fuzzy), a few nasty comments about the Eisner Awards, an
apostrophe to the Jewish creators of the Golden Age, and a final
lambast for the Rawhide Kid.


The
firing of an editorial cartoonist for views that some allege
are anti-Semitic, reprints of Al Capp's Li'l Abner and V.T.
Hamlin's Alley Oop to celebrate their August anniversaries,
recent reprints from Andrews McMeel (including the last Pat
Oliphant collection from 2001 and the first Lola), Gil Thorp
and "the Rapture," and remembering fan publisher and Caniff
Camp Follower Carl Horak.


Plus
Vertigo's tenth anniversary, reviews of two Number Ones, the
Archival Plastic Man, plus snide remarks about Trouble and Freudian
analysis of Bad Girls with a wink at the Mona Lisa, and Craig
Thompson's superlative Blankets.


Plus
Aaron McGruder and Condi Rice, Dilbert and the Weasel Awards
and the mystery cartoonists doing Scott Adams' strip, reaction
to Rush's disgrace in The Boondocks and in Mallard
Fillmore, snippets from an interview with Kyle Baker, and
reviews of books about Paul Murray, Jefferson Machamer, and
Alex Raymond.


Plus
Berke Breathed staking out Opus' half-page turf and managing,
at the same time, to insult all other working cartoonists-which
prompts Mort Walker to respond; the Rush-beau and Harv's conservative
imperative; Pekar's talk show, Herman's 30th, and
more.


Plus homoeroticism in the tv Batman of the sixties,
comics-inspired movies for 2004 and reviews of Dark Horse's
Conan revival, Caper, Teen Titans Go, and Kyle Baker's Plastic
Man, and a look at an index to Lewis Carroll's Alice in the comics.


Also religious bias in B.C. again and anti-Semitism
in a British cartoon; obits for comics historian Martin Sheridan,
Ozark Ike's Ray Gotto, Tug McGraw, and Arkansas editoonist George
Fisher, plus Barbie's history and reviews of College Cartoons
and Floyd Norman's insight into animation studio life.


Plus reviews of graphic novels Like a River and The
Bloody Streets of Paris; Pixar deserting Disney and other misfortunes
at the Mouse House, and funnybook reviews of Caper (again),
My Faith in Frankie, Vertical, Kyle Baker Cartoonist, Wonder
Woman no. 200, The Unfunnies, and Desperate Times and the anniversary
Popeye Sunday strip.


Reviews of Mad
Art and Will Elder:
Mad Playboy of Art, coupled to brief biographies of Harvey
Kurtzman and Will
Elder; plus reviews of "The Triplets of Belleville,"
Mister O, Happy Halloween Li'l Santa, Greg Theakston's Thrill Book
(of pre-Code 1950s horror and sf stories), AC's Golden-Age Greats Spotlight (Vol. 2), and of reprint tomes of The Boondocks, Baby Blues, and previews
of Fantagraphics' massive Peanuts
project, a new artist on Prince
Valiant, new writer on Gil
Thorp, and a round-up of cartooning prize winners and contenders,
concluding with a long-deserved honor for Jules
Feiffer.


Plus the winner of this year's
Pulitzer for editorial cartooning, the secret in Gasoline Alley, the death of pioneering African-American cartoonist
Chester Commodore, all the nominees for the Reuben Division
Awards from the National Cartoonists Society, Skippy's
last chance at justice, Aaron McGruder profiled in The New Yorker, the demise of animation at Disney and another tantalizing
body part from Janet Jackson.


Plus the annual convention of the Association of American
Editorial Cartoonists (AAEC), Larry Flynt and freedom of speech,
how comics have gone to war in America's bellicose past, the transition
in Jane's World, and
the new depths of Aaron McGruder's machinations.


Plus a short history of the Puck building, a cartooning
shrine, and extensive quotes from Neil Gaiman's Harvey Awards
keynote, comics as a natural human manifestation that will never
die, celebrating free speech, the decline and fall of a commander-in-chief
and other news flashes.


Plus psychological comedy in funnybooks, Heroes Anonymous and Dr. Blink, Lynn Johnston's retiring, Annie's new artist, and Australian cartooners'
80 years as a club, and more, includingsome recent examples of gross media malfunction,
including the fumbling over Dick Cheney's F-word and the persecution
of Michael Moore.


Plus four new strips (Franklin Fibbs, Todd the Dinosaur, Silo Roberts, Mullets), Ronin Ro's
Tales to Astonish,
the line-up at the Festival of Cartoon Art at Ohio State University,
Zippy on stage, and the new Schulz book.


Also reviews of comic books Gray Area and Bloodhound
and badinage about such topics as the deterioration of confidence
in the so-called "news" media, Mickey Mouse's religion,
anti-Semitic comic books in WWII's France, and the latest disturbance
in The Boondocks.


Reprints
from Andrews McMeel (Shoe,
Doonesbury, the surprising Rugrats,
Tom the Dancing Bug, In the Bleachers, and Ziggy)
plus Last Kiss, PricklyCity, Chrismahanukwanzakah, and the reason for Tintin's
perpetual youth.


Plus
Will Eisner's death (see Harv's Hindsights for an appreciation),
new Krazy Kat reprints, voice actors, J.R. Williams' classic
cartoons, Eric Vincent's Ten Miles of Bad Road, the syndication
of website comics, the death of Bernie Lansky, Berke Breathed's
latest pronouncements, and Art Spiegelman's comments on his
latest book and his status with The
New Yorker.

 Why
Zeke Zekley didn't inherit the strip he'd assisted on for twenty
years, plus Calvin and Hobbes originals, the Spirit
movie, bashing The Plot, Buzz Bunny re-styled, Born
Loser's 40th, a new triple threat strip from
King, and funnybook reviews of Street Angel, City of Tomorrow, Red Sonja,
The Atheist, and Kiss
and Tell.

 Plus
reviews of The Pirates
and the Mouse and The
New West, Judo Girl, Shanna, Heroes Anonymous, Dr. Blink, and Black Panther, racial
stereotyping on a Mexican postage stamp, and the deaths of Selby Kelly, Rowland B. Wilson, and Bruce Hamilton.

 Stories
about Mother Goose and Grimm's manic creator, Mike Peters, plus
obit for Rowland B. Wilson, review of Modern Arf, Trudeau's
turd, three cartoonists who are screwing up America, a screed
about anonymous sources, and a long report on your reporter's
recent sojourn in Ye Olde Merrie.

 Plus
reviews of A History of Violence and Capote in Kansas, the New York Times’ new Funny Pages and Pat Bagley’s book about Clueless George, some first issue funny books, and what’s happening
in 9 Chickweed Lane and
in Over the Hedge.

Plus
the long lost Little Chief, a comic
strip by and about a Native American, and reviews of Loveless, Jack Cross, Superman and Shazam: First Thunder, Boy Wonder, Sable and Fortune, The Exterminators,
Marlene, plusWeiner’s 101 Best Graphic Novels and DeForest’s Storytelling in the Pulps, Comics, and Radio.

Evolution
of the Muslim protest, links to the offensive images, and a score or more of
opinions on the subject. Plus Oswald the Lucky Rabbit’s return to Disney, the
best scholarly source on comics, New
Yorker cartoons and the tradition of excellence, and reviews of Nextwave, Revelations, and the graphic
novel Earthboy Jacobus.

Plus
reviews of Jim Whiting’s autobiography, the graphic novel The King, and news about the implications for editorial cartooning
of the Knight Ridder sale, Scientology in South Park, and the Over the Hedge movie, and an essay about
whether religion is the problem.

Plus
Humor Times, a book on African-American comics and cartoonists, Reuben
nominees, a new Will Elder collection, and reviews of first issues of Blue Beetle, Tag and Bink II, Pat Novak,
Batman: Year 100, and Anthem.

Plus
Art Spiegelman’s examination of the Danish Dozen in the June Harper’s, and reviews American Virgin, Next Wave, and Truth, Justin and the American Way and Liberality for All, and how there are
no cartoons of Muhammad in the NCS Reuben program booklet.

“Strong
lead female characters” analyzed, plus Superman as Jesus, Superman as gay icon,
the annual Superman festival in Metropolis, Illinois, and the Raggedy Ann
annual shindig in Arcola, Illinois, with a short bio of her cartoonist creator,
Johnny Gruelle.

Plus Mart Nodell’s creation
of the Golden Age Green Lantern and reviews of some comic book first issues:
Casandra, Sidekick, Umbra, Jack of Fables,The Next; and of American Virgin,
Jonah Hex, Marvel Westerns, Bomb Queen and Ant.

Plus
reviews of the most recent For Better or
For Worse reprint, with Lynn Johnston talking about the impending end of
the strip next fall, a swarm of comic book titles, and the first volume of the
complete collected Dick Tracy.

Plus
a short review of Cancer Vixen, more about the death of Captain America,
Doonesbury calling for GeeDubya’s impeachment, editoonery awards, the Simpsons
in Playboy, and what political cartooners think about during a two-year Presidential
campaign.

We vent our disgust at the forced resignation of an
English teacher whose crime was recommending Daniel Clowes’ Eightball No.
22 to a 13-year-old female student, and we applaud the only professional job of
reporting on the incident, by quoting the entire article.

Plus reviews of The
Last Fantastic Four Story, Casanova No. 9, and Groo at 25, and the latest Muhammad uprising, La Cucaracha’s
banishment, Boondocks’ return to late-night tv, the cancer fund from Funky
Winkerbean, sexual intercourse in the funnies, farting in Zits, Bill O’Reilly in Candorville,
and the very funny work of Richard Thompson.

Including Jon
Goldwater and Stan Lee, the chances of the Sandy Eggo Con moving out of San
Diego, and photos galore, plus Arlo & Janis’ 25th, the
Bard in two panels, and a Muslim cartoonist talking about Draw Muhammad Day.

Plus
Spider-Man on Broadway, More Islamic Hooliganism, Zuma Sues Zapiro, the Meaning
of Life in a Sentence, and reviews of NBM books, Corto Maltese, The Story of
O, First Time, Aldana, A Home for Mr. Easter, Salvatore, Elephant Man, and
Papercutz’s Cyrano de Bergerac (to name a few); and funnybooks—Stan
Lee’s Soldier Zero (again), Traveler, and Starborn, Risso’s Jonah Hex, Route Des Maisons Rouge

Including
Ireland’s biography and reviews of a new history of American Political
Cartooning and The Punch Brotherhood plus John Byrne’s Next Men and Fantastic
Four No. 587 wherein the Human Torch goes out. Also: Superman flick cast,
Trudeau’s data verified, Reuben finalists announced, Carl Barks makes cameo
appearances in anniversary issues of Disney comics, and obits for Bill Crouch
and Dwayne McDuffie.

Plus reviews
of The Cape (the second No. 1 and the first No. 1), Jonah Hex No.
69, Captain America and Bucky No. 620, and the first four issues of Fear
Itself and an illustrated explanation of why Steranko’s Red Tide is
not a graphic novel.

Plus
11 book reviews: Too Small to Fail: Another th(ink) Anthology; The Complete
Peanuts: 1981-1982; The Lives of Sacco and Vanzetti; Guerillas: Volume 1; The
Big Hoax; Lincoln from Rail-Splitter to Icon; Blackjacked and Pistol-Whipped: A
Crime Does Not Pay Primer; Willie & Joe Back Home; The Peanuts Collection;
How To Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less; Aaron and Ahmed

Superman
Versus the Ku Klux Clan: The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the
Men of Hate, by Rick
Bowers; Superman: The High-Flying History of America’s Most Enduring Hero by
Larry Tye, plus Vol. 2 of Crime Does Not Pay.

A survey of
editorial cartoons on the re-election of Bronco Bama, the myopia of the
Republicons, and the current viability of Playboy (plus a review of the Playboy
Covers tome), Sandy Eggo Con stays in San Diego again, Mad’s 60th,
the validity of the Superman wars

Plus Chicago
Public Schools bans Persepolis, Siegel heirs lose again, some of the best
editoons of the month, plus reviews of: Icons of the American Comic Book,
Silver Streak Archives, Vols. 1 and 2; Crime Does Not Pay, Vol.3; Adventures
Into the Unknown: Pre-code Horror; Forbidden Worlds, Vol.1; The Best From the
Tomb, Ditko Monsters: Gorgo!, The Complete Peanuts: 1985-1986 & 1987-1988,
From the Files of Mike Hammer; The Golden Age of DC Comics: 1935-1956; American
Comic Book Chronicles: 1960-65; and funnybooks Snapshot, No.1; Sledgehammer 44,
No.1; Sex, No.1; and obits for Carmine Infantino and Bob Clarke.

Plus the
desecration of a Superman shrine in Cleveland, the courage of Syrian cartoonist
Ali Ferzat, and the current status of Mike Diana (by reviewing the crime
against him). And we review “The Illusionist,” and numerous books: Forbidden
Worlds, Vol. 2: Nos.5-8; Black Cherry, Ratfist; Woodworks— Against the Grain,
Wally’s World, Woodwork: Wallace Wood, 1927-1981, Came the Dawn and Other EC
Stories by Wood; Halloween Classics: Graphic Classics, Vol.23; Native American
Classics: Graphic Classics, Vol.24; Daggers Drawn: 35 Years of Kal Cartoons in
The Economist; The Graphic Canon: Adapting 19th Century Literary
Works to Comics Form—and we rehearse the history of Graphic Classics.

Plus reviews
of the Zits novel, Gaimen’s Unfortunately the Milk, Andy Gump novel, The
Madam Paul Affair, Lost in the Alps, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy
(Gentleman) and Apple’s banning Sex Criminals, Fantagraphics getting
Kickstarted, and Mickey Mouse putting on gloves and other news.

Plus two
analytical comics histories, artist changes at Rex Morgan and Sally
Forth, The Nib’s line-up of cartoonists, a cartoon depicting JFK being shot
on the day he was, classic Phantom Lady reprint, and reviews of Captain
Midnight, Damian, Criminal Macabre: Eyes of Frankenstein, Daredevil No.24, 25;
Tom Strong, The Saviors, 47 Ronin (5-issue series), and the possibly
metaphysical Shaolin Cowboy) and a dozen books, including Cartoons of World War
II, The Complete Colonel Blimp, The Best of the Comix Book, Bad Girls Need Love
Too, This Book Contains Graphic Language, Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels, and
Will Eisner: A Dreamer’s Life in Comics (brief).

Plus the
first Watterson cartoon in 18 years, a historic comics mural being threatened,
taboos being violated in newspaper comics, and reviews of some graphic novels
and a half-dozen books (including a new “biographical dictionary” of
cartoonists).

Plus new bio
of Robert Ripley, comic book first issues (Moon Knight, White Suits, Veil,
Starlight) and others (Ms. Marvel Improved, Wolverine, Captain Marvel—All the
Same Stuff; Daredevil and Hawkeye, Still Superior; Savage Dragon Starts Over;
The Saviors, Brother Lono Ends); and new animated Peanuts, the plethora of
superflicks, and weed in Colorado.

Plus
the 50th anniversary of the Fold-In, a review of Bill O’Reilly’s
Killing Jesus and a report on South Carolina’s defunding a college because it
put Fun Home on its reading list. And more—including paintings by modern
masters GeeDubya and RCH.

Plus
New York Post drops its comics section, shreds and patches of NCS history and
cartooning lore (Who drew the Golden Age G.I. Joe? How the Milt Gross Fund got
its name), a rare glimpse of Harv’s Navy cartoon character Cumshaw, and
more taboos being broken daily on the comics pages of the nation’s newspapers.

Pondering the
current state of the comic-con “industry,” plus a sampling of the month’s
editorial cartoonists and reviews of Southern Bastards, Dicks, Five Ghosts, The
Massive, Time Lincoln Continental, Sandman Overture No.2, United States of
Murder, Inc., and a report on Dick Tracy’s four-month search for Little Orphan
Annie.

Reviews of Ripley’s
Believe It Or Not reprints, a couple 75th anniversary books
(Marvel and Batman), and a volume of Puck color cartoons; anniversaries in Luann,
Mother Goose and Grimm, Hi and Lois, and Dick Tracy, comic books Men
of Wrath, The October Faction, Batgirl No.35 and Detective No.35 and
some of the earliest post-Midterm Election editorial cartoons (plus some about
ebola and the White House intruder).

Plus
offensiveness in cartoons, alleged Islamophobia at Charlie Hebdo, Daryl
Cagle’s massive online exhibit, the “survivors” issue of Charlie and a
bibliography of articles in Print on censorship and related matters by
Michael Dooley.

Plus reviews of
graphic novels—Moore’s Nemo books (Heart of Ice and The Roses of
Berlin), Geary’s Louise Brooks: Detective; and Tardi’s Run Like
Crazy, Run Like Hell—and Comic Book People, Mineshaft (vestige of
comix), and Airboy.

Comics reviewed
are Miller’s Dark Knight III: The Master Race, Fourth Issue of the New Archie,
New Daredevil, Superman: Lois and Clark, Captain America White, Huck,
Goddamned, New Shield, New Hawkeye, New Wolverine— plus Womanthology Heroic,
Will Eisner: Champion of the Graphic Novel; Charlie Brown’s Christmas Stocking;
The Joy of a Peanuts Christmas: 50 Years; A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making
of a Tradition; Twelve Terrors of Christmas (Edward Gorey) and some graphic
novels (Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage; Ann Tenna: A Novel; and
The True Death of Billy the Kid) and The Life and Art of Wesley Morse of
Tijuana Bible fame, plus Edge City ends.

Plus a review
of Ted Rall’s Snowden, women in comics with Ally Sloper (two new names for the
roster), the Dick Tracy and On the Fastrack cross-over
(mentioning also the two other daily strips Bill Holbrook does), Charlie Hebdo
a year later, and flaws in New Yorker cartoons.

Commemorating
the occasion, a profusely illustrated history of Harv’s eroticartoon for Fling
in the late 1970s, plus Pat Oliphant’s “retirement,” Playboy’s lame explanation
for giving up on cartoons, guest artists on Dilbert, and Murphy Anderson’s Buck
Rogers.

Plus reviews of
“cartoons” in Playboy, America in Cartoons: A History in Pictures; Dictators
in Cartoons: Unmasking Monsters and Mocking Tyrants; Black Hand Comics and The
New Yorker zoo cartoons and appreciating Darwyn Cooke and Mell Lazarus.

Also “Captain
America: Civil War,” Frank Miller’s Daredevil and the Ends of Heroism,
Mignola leaves Hellboy, Prez satire, the last Snyder/Capullo issues of Batman,
and Muhammad Ali whuppin’ Superman in 1978, plus some old postcards, an old
magazine, and the passing of The New Yorker’s Frank Modell.

Playboy’s
so-called “cartoonists,” Red Ryder’s Fred Harman, and first issues (Midnight
of the Soul, Renato Jones: The One %, Wagner’s Shadow) and Yuge: 30
Years of Doonesbury on Trump, Graphic Classics: H.G. Wells, Geary’s Murder
at the Hollywood Hotel, The Tipping Point, and The Story of My Tits (graphic novel).

Plus Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar’s Mycroft Holmes, Garrett Price’s unique White Boy, and a clutch
of barenekkidwimmin comic books, one of which veers off into sadistic
eroticism, and why superheroines won’t work in a politically correct
environment.

More Trumpet
caricatures, reviews of first issues of Moonshine, Cage, Shipwreck, Midnighter
and Apollo; and of books—The Minicomix Revolution 1969-1989, Your Brain on
Latino Comics, Latinix Comic Book Storytelling, The Best American Comics 2016.

Also reviews of
Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse, Vols. 6-9; Mary Astor’s Purple Diary (Edward Sorel
illos); The Best of Archie Comics: 75 Years, 75 Stories; “Riverdale”—Archie on
Television; Black History in Its Own Words; Jim Davis’ Garfield Original Daily
and Sunday Art in new Hermes Press volume; plus first issues of Francesco
Francavilla’s Will Eisner’s The Spirit, The Few, and Bullseye. And—: Pat Oliphant’s
brief return to editooning, politics in comic strips, NY Times drops Graphic
Novel Bestseller lists, more awards for March: Book Three; another Resist! (with samples from the first issue), doubtful anti-Semitism.

Lengthy reviews
of two great graphic novels—Corto Maltese, back in a new translation, and
Dieter Lumpen, at least Corto’s equal in the adventuring game; with Corto
review, a virtual history of the character and his creator, Hugo Pratt.

Harv=s history with college magazines, plus Al Plastino=s Peanuts comic strips, Milton Caniff=s World War II lecture on the dangers of VD, the new
cartoon editor at The New Yorker and obits for Jay Disbrow and Carolyn
Kelly.

Plus the untold
history of Uncle Sam and reviews of first issues of Jazz Maynard, Jimmy’s
Bastard, Normany Gold, and Accell, plus reviews of three books, 20th Century in Cartoons, Hitler in Cartoons, and Cartoons Against the Holocaust;
also What Roger Ailes Wrought and Alan Moore’s last comic book; obits for Joan
Lee, Bob Lubbers, and “Fabulous Flo.”

Schulz home
burns but Museum is okay, Pepe fights back, The New Yorker’s “what if” cover,
and a long segment on Dr. Seuss, his anti-America First stance in WWII
political cartoons, the new Seuss Museum and the accompanying racist
controversy from Right Thinkers.